Registering apparatus



May 25, 1937.

G. W. M LEAN ET AL REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l Swen limo Q), 9160 39.7. 9L. 6/?AW,

May 25, 1937. c; w, MCLEAN ET AL 2,081,245

REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1933 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1937. w. MCLEAN ET AL REGISTERING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George W. McLean and Belle A. Shur, New Orleans, La.

Application September .13, 1933, Serial No. 689,310

2 Claims.

This invention relatesto registering apparatus and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated in the form of a checkingdevice for the purpose of registering the number of times that persons pass through the same.

The apparatus is particularly useful in checking the number of bunches of bananas that are being loaded into or unloaded from a vessel or freight car. Each person carrying a bunch of bananas passes over the mound platform of the apparatus and it is necessary for him to tread uponamovablestep WhiCh'iS operatively connected with one or more meters thereby causing the counters to indicate or register the number of bunches of bananas carried over the moundplatform.

While the device is particularly designed to be used for registering the number of bunches of bananas which are being loaded or unloaded from a carrier, it may be used to advantage for registering other commodities put in barrels, bails or other containers and in such condition loaded upon or unloaded from a carrier by porters or stevedores.

Other advantageous characteristics will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the said are read in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the registering apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the registering apparatus with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the registering apparatus with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the mound-platform of the registering apparatus cut on the line 4-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 5 is a similar view cut on the line 55 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a similar view out on the line 6--5 of Figure 4.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings.

The apparatus comprises a platform mound I having a step 2 pivoted at its top side and midway between the ends thereof. Said step being adapted to swing in the path of travel over the mound. The platform is provided at opposite edges of the step with inclined tread panels 3 upon which are mounted suitable cleats t. shaft 5 is supported at its end inthe-side walls of the platform Land is located below the step 2. Springs 5 are coiled about the shaft 5 and secured thereto as shown in Figure 4. At their opposite ends these springs are securedby means of a bracket I to the under side of the step 2 and when the step is depressed the springs are placed under tension. When, however, pressure is released on the step 2 the springs 6 will return the step to its normal elevated-position.

An arm 8 is mounted upon the under side of that tread 3 which is adjacent the :pivoted edge of the step and the free end of the said arm extends below the step and is spaced therefrom. A bolt 9 is pivotally connected with the step and passes loosely through the arm 8. Nuts ID are screwed upon the lower end of the bolt and are adapted to engage the under surface of the arm whereby the upward swinging movement of the free edge of the step is limited.

Arms H are mounted under the step and have free ends spaced therefrom. Bolts 12 pass through the arms il and have nuts [3 screw threaded thereon and which are adapted to rest upon the upper surfaces of the arms I l as shown in Figure 6. Other nuts M are screwed upon the upper ends of the bolts !2 and are adapted to be encountered by the step 2 when the same is depressed whereby means are provided for limiting the downward swinging movement of the free edge of the step. A shield plate I5 is carried at the free edge of the plate and extends below the top of the platform through the step opening and serves to prevent any thing from lodging under the free edge of the step and preventing the swinging movement of the step when it is trod upon.

Side railings l6 are mounted at the side edges of the platform mound l as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and the said railings are made up of pipe sections coupled together by pipe joints in a usual manner. Each side railing I6 is provided with a laterally disposed wing ll. Said wings stand out from the railings away from the platform mound so that ample clearing space is left between the railings for the passage of porters who in travelling over the platform mound tread upon the step 2 and depress the same. After each porter passes through the ap paratus and removes his weight from the step, the free edge of the step is swung up to a normal position by the return springs 6 hereinbefore described.

Boards l8 are provided and each of said boards is provided upon its rear side with cleats l8 which are engaged over the upper edges of the wings 7 whereby the said boards are detachably supported upon said wings. A counter 20 is mounted upon each board 18. A bar 2! is mounted upon the free end of the step 2 and is provided at its ends with angular extremities 22. That extremity 22 shown at the left in Figure l of the drawings is operatively connected with a meter operating arm 23 by means of a rod 24 and when the step 2 is swung down the meter at the left of the apparatus is operated by the extremity of the rod 2|, the rod 24 and the arm 23.

The counter shown at the right in Figure 1 is operatively connected with the other extremity 22 of the rod 2! by means of a rod 25 pivoted to the arm of a bell-crank lever 26 the other arm of which is connected with a chain 21 passing over a pulley 28 and leading into the casing of the meter at the same side of the apparatus. When the step is depressed as hereinbefore described the rod 25, bell-crank lever 26 and chain 21 are actuated whereby the counter at the right hand side of the apparatus is operated. Two counters are employed in order that one may serve as a check upon the other.

Where reference is made to the counters or checking element 2!! it is to be understood that the type of counter is the usual well known fare register used in street cars and other public utility busses and we make no specific claim to any novelty in the construction of said counters.

What we claim is:

1. In a registering device, the combination of a platform, a depressible step pivoted to the platform, a shaft mounted beneath the platform, springs coiled about and secured to the shaft at one end and at their opposite ends bearing upwardly against the step for normally holding the free end of the step in an elevated position, a plate secured along the free edge of said step and adapted to enter said platform, an arm located under the platform and attached thereto, a bolt adjustably mounted upon the arm and extending into the path of movement of said step to limit the movement thereof, a counter supported by the platform, and links operatively connecting the counter to the step whereby depression of the step will actuate the counter.

2. In a registering device, the combination of a platform, a depressible step pivoted for movement within the platform, a plate fixed to the free edge of said step and normally extending downwardly below said platform, a shaft mounted beneath the platform, coiled springs on said shaft and each having one end secured thereto, the free ends of said springs projecting forwardly and engaging against the under side of said step for normally holding same in elevated position, an

arm fixed under said platform having one exyond the latter, and means connecting the projecting end of said strap with said counter for actuating the latter upon movement of said step.

BELLE A. SHUR. GEORGE W. MCLEAN. 

